Don Ladner star of Coast’s league win

Press, 8 May 1978, Page 40

Don Ladner star of Coast’s league win

By

JOHN COFFEY

West Coasters, by tradition, take great pride in the deeds of their sporting heroes. Yesterday, at Wingham Park, Greymouth, they had good reason to cheer the return of Don Ladner, whose eight goals contributed greatly to his province’s 22-12 rugby league defeat of Canterbury. Ladner’s kicking accuracy and length kept West Coast well in contention, even after Canterbury had claimed the first two tries of the match. He was on target at distances up to 49 metres, and his only failure was also from just inside Canterbury’s territory. The other members of the West Coast team were able to derive confidence from Ladner’s regular supply of points. They lifted their tackling rate even higher than it had been in the early stages, cancelling out the 168 scrummaging advantage of the Canterbury pack. The long spell that Ladner has had from first-class football has certainly not taken any toll of his goal-kicking skills. He was also very steady in his general play, if not having the flair of his marker, Michael O’Donnell, when seeking to inject thrust into back-line manoeuvres.

Canterbury, once again, had sufficient opportunities — and more than enough possession — to win. The forwards combined effectively, although the manner tn which they supported each other and kept the ball on the move would

have reaped a more positive reward had the passes been taken at pace. There seems to be a familiar fluctuating, and disturbing, pattern to the amount of momentum mustered by recent Canterbury teams. There was yet another productive start, when O’Donnell gave Robin Alfeld the leeway to score his fifth try in as many appearances, ahd seven points were added soon after half-time to more than off-set West Coast’s 8-5 lead at the interval. Michael Godinet continued to supply a majority of scrum ball, but the West Coast defence never relented in its enthusiasm to keep its opponent contained. Finally, Canterbury began to wilt and it was then that Ladner received some help in achieving a winning total. Peter O’Neill’s try was the product of a superb break by Gordon Smith, and Canterbury was behind, 1512, with 26 minutes left. Ladner goaled again, and the new West Coast prop, Richie Banks, sealed the issue by barging through the attempted restraining tackles of two rivals. Canterbury has yet to come to terms with its problems among the midfield backs. Dean Harris justified his inclusion, his astute backing-up and low defence earning him the Canterbury half of the “player of the match” awards.

Generally, though, the quickness of the West Coast line to move up smothered Canterbury’s plans from set

play. David Field slipped promisingly past his marker several times, only to be cornered before he could link with Harris or Peter Tairi. The wings, Alfeld and Francis Lawrence, thirsted for more work. Mark Broadhurst and Alan Rushton were the most prominent of the mobile Canterbury forward pack, but West Coast achieved parity around the rucks through the efforts of Tony Coll, Ray Baxendale and Paddy Byrne, the latter starting at loose forward and then switching to hooker in place of John Griffin.

West Coast’s victory was even more meritorious because it lost the services of its scrum-half, Gerard Harcourt, who dislocated his left shoulder in the twelfth minute. Chris Menzies transferred from the centres and shared the honours in an even tussle with Wally Wilson.

The come-back by Ladner, and the balmy weather conditions, attracted the largest crowd for an interprovincial match at Greymouth for many years. But two of the national selectors (Messrs Ron Ackland and Bill Sorensen) were late: a delay in their flight from Christchurch forced them to miss the first half. For West Coast O’Neill and Banks scored tries and Ladner kicked eight goals. Field and Alfeld replied with tries for Canterbury, O’Donnell adding three goals.